 AAA Hardwood answers some common questions...
1. Q: What are the pros and cons of pre-finished and engineered versus site finished floors?
2. Q: What are the pros and cons of real hardwood versus laminate?
3. Q: What is "edge detail," and what are my options?
4. Q: How do I care for my hardwood flooring?
5. Q: How do hardwood floors compare to other flooring materials?
6. Q: Is hardwood a good environmental choice?
7. Q: What is moisture content, and why is it important?
1. Q: What are the pros and cons of pre-finished and engineered versus site finished floors?
1. A: Pre-finished flooring is just that -- finished before it is brought on site. Each board is sanded and coated at the factory. Engineered flooring is made of layers of different woods. The wood that you see when the floor is installed is just a thin veneer
The advantages of prefinished and engineered floors include:
- Installers usually only need a day (depending on the floor size) to complete the installation, with no sanding or finishes used on site.
- Prefinished wood flooring is very durable, and the finish itself is under warranty by the manufacturer.
- Engineered flooring is warp and expansion resistant.
- Some engineered products can be used in basements.
Even with these advantages, pre-finished and engineered flooring definitely has it's disadvantages to consider as well:
- This type of flooring can be a dirt trap and very hard to clean, since there are beveled spaces between each of the boards. Site finished flooring is sanded and sealed at the job site, which means no cracks between boards.
- When refinishing pre-finished flooring, it is necessary to remove a lot more wood to get a level floor, so you lose more wood, and more life of the floor in the very first refinish than with a solid 3/4" hardwood floor. Engineered floors cannot be refinished, since it is built in layers, and the top layer is essentially a thin laminate on top of other, different layers.
- All pre-finished floors have a beveled edge on the wood strips which some people find unsightly. A custom sanded hardwood floor has a table-top appearance and is perfectly flat looking.
- A pre-finished floor will maintain height irregularities of the substrate. In short, a bump in the sub floor means a bump in the pre-finished floor. Site finished flooring is sanded flat, so irregularities in the sub floor are more correctable.
- If your pre-finished floor gets damaged, it means ripping out a whole section of flooring and completely replacing it, to correct it, whereas site-finished hardwood flooring can, in most cases, be easily fixed with a quick sanding and finish.
- Over time, and possibly over home-owner changes, many people don't know or forget the actual manufacturer of their pre-finished flooring product, which makes it much more difficult to get an exact match if board replacements are necessary at some point - or if they want to add additional flooring to other rooms of the home and they want an exact match.
- With site finished floors, a quality finisher can achieve a custom color and finish... not so with a pre-finished product.
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2. Q: What are the pros and cons of real hardwood versus laminate?
2. A.: A laminate floor is made of synthetic materials that can be printed to have a wood look. Pro's include:
- Good laminate floors resist scratching and denting, and do not stain.
- Laminates are nice for remodel applications because they are normally about 1/4" thick and can go over almost any existing floor (other than carpet) with little or no floor prep. Also, because it uses a free floating installation, it doesn't separate as some plank wood flooring does.
- Can be installed in basements.
Cons include:
- Although most people, at a glance, cannot recognize the difference between a wood look laminate and a real wood floor, some people feel that laminates are an artificial version of some other surface and thus less desirable.
- Long term standing water and excessive moisture can cause boards to disfigure. Floods, broken pipes and major appliance leaks can cause a lot of damage to laminate flooring. Keep in mind that the amounts of water we are talking about damage almost all types of flooring except tile & stone. This being said, laminate floors are usually not the first choice for full baths or utility rooms.
- Laminate floors cannot be refinished since the pattern is printed onto the surface of the flooring.
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3. Q: What is "edge detail," and what are my options? 3. A: The way the edges and the ends of the boards are cut is called edge/end detail. Options include square, eased, microbeveled and beveled.
If you are looking for a dramatic effect, select a beveled edge/end detail that emphasizes the definition of individual boards. Square edges/ends create a smooth and seamless appearance and give a prefinished floor the look commonly found in traditional site-finished floors.
Square- Squared edged products have a straight cut where the boards meet each other. One great advantage of a square edged product is that there is no groove or bevel for dirt to collect. Thus making these products more maintenance friendly. Also square edge products give the floor the look of one continues surface, not drawing attention to each individual piece of wood but a smoother, larger and more contemporary look of one more uniform surface. Because it takes more precise machinery to mill square edge products you will typically pay a little bit more for a square edge (if everything else is equal) as compared to a micro beveled or Beveled edge.
Bevel or Full Bevel- Bevel edge planks and visual interest to the floor drawing more attention to each board. Bevel edges gives the floor a casual, less formal and warmer appeal. Combined with the finish and color can give the floor a more country or even cabin like appearance. ) Bevel edge floors are best kept clean by the use of a canister vacuum.
Eased and Micro bevel- Like a bevel to a lesser degree. These products have a small bevel or a slight rounding of the board edges. This draws more attention to each individual board and gives the floor a warmer and more earthy appearance. Eased and micro-beveled edges are the most common. In fact many of the exotic species are only available in micro bevel. Micro bevels tend to be more cost friendly in most circumstances.
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4. Q: How do I care for my hardwood flooring?
4. A: Tips for caring for your hardwood floors:
- Place rugs at entrances to protect floor from scratches.
- Sweep wood floors regularly with a soft bristle broom or vacuum attachment, especially in high traffic areas. If your vacuum cleaner has a hardwood setting, this is more effective at removing dirt from your floors than sweeping.
- Never clean a hardwood floor with soaps or detergents. Instead, use a neutral pH cleaner made specifically for hardwood flooring. These are readily available at grocery and home stores.
- Clean spills promptly.
- Keep potted plants up off a wood floor so condensation does not build up.
- Put plastic or fabric-faced glides under the legs of furniture to prevent scuffing and scratching.
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5. Q: How do hardwood floors compare to other flooring materials?
5. A: Reasons to choose hardwood flooring include:
- Wood floors add a warm, natural beauty to your home.
- Hardwood increases the value of your home. Its luxury appearance appeals to all. Real estate agents say homes with wood floors hold their value better, sell faster, and command higher prices.
- Hypoallergenic - Hardwood floors do not trap bacteria, allergens, and dust, as carpets do.
- Properly maintained, they can last a lifetime.
- Easy upkeep.
- Custom stains, finishes and inlays mean an infinite variety of looks, so your installer can tailor it to the look you're after.
- Most wood floors come with a good manufacturer's warranty and can be sanded and refinished in their later years if necessary.
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6. Q: Is hardwood a good environmental choice?
6. A: Yes. Hardwood floors are recyclable, renewable, require less energy to manufacture, and are a better insulator than other materials.
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7. Q: What is moisture content, and why is it important?
7. A: Most problems with wood flooring, such as gapping, warping and buckling up, are related to moisture.
When a wood floor is laid while its moisture content is too high, the boards will shrink as they dry, and gaps will appear between the boards. To avoid this problem, flooring should be purchased from a reputable manufacturer. A good installer can test the moisture content of the flooring to anticipate any problems before they start.
The opposite situation is installing wood floors in humid environments. The flooring will require an acclimation period. Otherwise, the floor could buckle up after installation.
Again, purchasing reputable and time-tested brands is a crucial factor for a successful wood flooring installation.
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